Egg grading device



Sept. 14, 1937. b. NIEDERER 2,093,333

EGG Gamma DEVICE Filed June 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 14, 1937. oi NIEDERER EGG GRADING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1935 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Home];

P 1937- o. NIEDERER EGG GRADING DEVICE Filed June 21, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N w l lnuenlor 0/!0 j zd'erer Ill A Home); I

Patented Sept. 14, 1937 untran- STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG GRADING DEVICE Otto Niederer, Tltusville, N. 1. Application June 21, 1935, Serial No. 27,778

4Claims.

This invention relates to a device for grading eggs. 3 y

In accordance with the present invention a simple and inexpensive device is provided where- 5 by large quantities of eggs may be quickly and easily candied and graded by a single person.

In accordance with the present invention an inclined trackway is provided ,and down which the eggs in single file roll by gravity over a source of illumination for candling purposes; and at one end of the trackway scales are provided for grading the eggs awarding to weight and for directing the graded eggs into proper pockets or receptacles provided therefor. 15 The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein;

. Figure l is a top plan view of the device. 20 Figure 2 is a side elevational .view thereof. 7

Figures 3, 4 and 6 are detail sectional views taken substantially on the lines {-4. 4-4 and O-i respectively of Figure l.

Figure 5 is atop plan view of a grader scale.

25 Figure 7 is .atransverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 'II of Figure 5.

Figure '8 is a longitudinal sectional view through a. glasscylinder forming part of the 7 Figures 11 and'lii are sectional'views taken sub- 35 'stantially on the lines li-ll and ll-ll respectively of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail view-taken substantially onthe linen-'42 ofFigure9'.

' Figure 141s a detail sectionalview taken sub-.

40 stantially on the line i4-l4 of Figure2.

Figure 15 is'a fragmentary top plan view of trail and supporting post therefor.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the candling and grads ing device comprises an elongated platform I supported by legs or standards 2. Supported on the platform is an inclined track I comprising a pair of round rails 4-4'suDPOtted above the '5 platformpostl; J

' As best shown in Figure 14 the rails 4 are set in notches or recesses provided in the upper end oi the post and the rails of thetrack are supported at the desired elevation through the me- 55 dium of upper and lower lock nuts i provided on threaded ends of the post 8 that extend through apertures provided therefor in the platform i.

Arranged underneath an intermediate portion of the trackway 3 is a casing I having openings I in the top thereof and arranged in alignment 5 with the space between the rails 4. Suitably mounted in the casing 1 and in alignment with the openings 0 are electric lamps 9 (see Figures 1 and 2). 4 A

At the lower end of the trackway 3 is a trans- 10 fer track indicated generally bythe reference numeral l0.

As best shown in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive, the

' transfer track l0 comprises a pair of short spaced parallel round rails I I having end portions welded 15 or otherwise secured to the top of an inverted channel member l2,

Rigidly secured to the sides of the member it are one end ofarms of substantially elongated L-shaped members I! arranged in diverging relation as shown in Figure 10. The members it have vertical arms [4 disposed at opposite sides of the trackway I and these arms l4 are provided adjacent'their-upper end with vertically spaced notches with which is engaged an endless elastic stop band II with which the foremost egg shown in broken lines in Figure 2 and indicated by the reference numeral i0 abuts asfor a purpose hereinafter made manifest. Also secured to the member I! is one end of a -80 rod I! that has a short upturned end Ila. This end ila operates between the rails- 4 to engage behind the foremost candledegg II to arrest the movement of the other eggs as the first mentioned egg passes under the elastic band II to roll down the' trackway 3 and onto the transfer track III.

As shown in Figurejll the rod ll adjacent the end Fla is supported by a strap it that extends between the members |l, ;which members, it will 40 be noted are downwardly; offset with regard to the plane of the member i2. Y For limiting rotative movement of the trackway It, which latter ,is supported for pivotal movement by post means is rising from the platform I, there are provided stop rods 20, and 2| respectively secured at the desired adjustment on the platform l'by lock nuts 22. In this connection and as best shown in Figure 2,,the stop rod 20 is arranged in the path of the cross member I! while the stop rod 2| is arranged in the path of the member l2. 7 Also, on the member I! there is secured to the underside thereof by a bolt and slot connection 23, a shlftable weight 24 which I may be adjusted alfound desirable for controlling the tilting movement of the trackway it incidental to the reception of an egg thereon from the trackway 3. Also arranged on the platform i are a plurality of relatively spaced bridge tracks 23, 2:3, 25 and 2 6 respectively. Any number of these bridge tracks may be provided and each is shown consisting of a pair of spaced apart round rails supported by posts equipped with stop nuts corresponding to the post 6 and lock nuts 22 forming the supporting means for the rail of the track switch.

Arranged in ofiset relation to the bridge tracks 23, 2d, 25 and 2e arethe track equipped ends of grading scales indicated generally by the reference numeral 271.

Each grading scale as best shown in Figure 1 and Figures 5 to 8 inclusive includes a balance bar 28 pivoted adjacent one end as at 29 to a suitable post 30 rising from the platform i. Secured to the pivoted end of the bar 28 are the ends of bracket arms 3! that support a rigid frame embodying a pair of rails including an outer longer rail 32 and an inner shorter rail 33 aligning with the rails of the trackways 23, etc.

On the opposite side of the pivot 29 the bar 29 is provided with a slot 36 to accommodate a portion of a tube 35 of glass or other suitable transparency. The glass contains weights in the form of a ball 36 and is closed at its ends by suitable plugs 31, 38 respectively-as shown in Figure 8. Also, the glass tube 35 is secured in position through the medium of a suitable strap 3% secured at its ends to the bar 28 by bolt and slot means fill. Thus the tube 35 may be secured at the desired longitudinal adjustment on the bar 28.

Rotative movement of the balancing lever 28 in a clockwise direction is limited by a suitable stop rod 4!. Also, to secure the maintaining of the rails'32, 33 ina horizontal position at all times the innermost rail 33 is provided with 9. depending arm 42 to which is pivoted one end of a link 43 that is also pivoted between the post 30 provided for the balancing lever 28.

Also, associated with the rails of the grading scale is an inclined chute 44. In the present instance, the chute 44 as shown in Figure 4 is formed from a single piece of strap metal or the like having one end suitably formed by the standard 44a for the chute and this standard is secured to the platform I as'at 45. The chute 44 is so arranged as to project upwardly between the rails of the associated scale when the latter is tipped by the weight of the egg thereon in a manner shown in Figure 4. Thus through the medium of the chute 44 the egg on the ,tra'ckway of the scale is directed toward a slot 46 provided at the platform at the lower end of each chute 44.

Operating in the slot 46 and pivoted as .at 4'! is a chute .48 which is weighted at its pivoted end as at. j

The chute 48 as suggested in Figure 3 serves to direct the' graded eggs into the proper pockets 50 provided as shown in Figure 1. In this connection it will-be noted that a plurality of pockets 5!] are provided one for each of the scales 28 and these pockets are formed in what may be termed a lateral extension 5| provided for the platform at one end of the latter.

In connection with the above it willbe understood that the tubes .35 of the scales 21 are so adjusted as to require an egg of a certain weight to tip the scale, as for example, the adjustment vof the tube 35 on the first scale 21 is such that a relatively heavy egg will be required to tip that scale, while the adjustment for the next aoeaaae adjacent scale is such that an egg of a slightly less weight will tip that scale, and so forth so that the eggs may be rapidly graded. according to size and weight.

The operation and utility of the device is thought to be apparent from the foregoing. The. eggs as they roll down the inclined trackway 3 and pass over the lamp are candled. To permit the first egg to pass from the lower end of the trackway 3 onto the transfer track it the latter is tilted manually. Upon tilting of the trackway id in this manner the band i5 is raised to permit a second egg to pass thereunder while the end lie of the member i-l will serve to arrest movement of the following egg. As will be appreciated, after the first egg has passed under the barrier IS the hand will be removed from the trackway ill permitting the latter to drop to its normal position so that the barrier IE will take place of the end Ila of the member Ii'for arresting the movement of the aforementioned following egg. As the first egg passes from the lower end of the trackway 3 and on to the transfer track It, trackway it will again tilt, this time under the welghtof the egg thereon so that the operation above explained with regard to the successive raising and lowering of the barrier He will be repeated. Manifestly such operation will be successively repeated until all of the eggs have been candled.

As an egg passes from the trackway Ill it rolls onto the trackway 23 and from this trackway onto the trackway of the first scale2i. If the eggs are of sufllcient weight the beam of this scale will then be tilted and the egg will be transferred from this scale through the medium of the chutes 44 and 48 in a manner proviously-described into the proper pocket 50. Obviously, if the egg is of lighter weight it will pass onto the trackway of the next scale, it being obvious that the scale will tilt to dispense the egg only when an egg of the proper weight passes onto the trackway of the scale. I

-In connection with the above it will be noted that my improved grading scale will work ,efficiently and quickly, the spherical wall. 36 being freely movable within the transparenttube 35 working, in thefirst instance, to discharge the egg quickly as soon as the beam overbalances lightly, and in the second instance working to quickly return the balance beam to a balance or normal position when an egg of the proper weight has been removed from the scale in a manner hereinbefore clearly pointed out. Thus the scale will be quickly returned to proper position for receiving the next succeeding egg.

Working in unison with the scales is my improved transfer track and stop assembly associated therewith, said transfer track and stop means serving to properly time the feeding of the eggs to'the scales. Further, by reason'of the specific constructionof the stop means and the engagement'thereof with the eggs, suillcient rotary movement is imparted to the eggs to insure a thorough and careful candling of the eggs.

From the above it will be apparent that with a device of this character, thorough and efiicient candling of the eggs will result and that the parts are so timed in their operation that the way, a plurality of laterally spaced scales at the vided with a trackway in substantial alignment with the inclined trackway, a pivoted transfer trackway intermediate the lower end or the inclined trackway and the trackway or the first scale, means connected with the transfer trackway and movable therewith for controlling the movement oi the eggs over theinclined trackway, a platform upon which said inclined trackway and scales are mounted, and said platform being provided with slots arranged in alternation relative to the scales, and chutes arranged in alternation to said slots and relative to the trackways o! the scales for directing eggs on-the 3. In a device of the character described, and

in combination, a grading scale including a pivoted beam, a trackway on one end of the beam and extending transversely of the beam, and a fixed chute arranged to project upwardly between the rails or the trackway when the trackway equipped end of the beam is depressed whereby to direct an article on the traekway toward one end oi the latter to discharge therefrom.

4. In a device of the character described, a fixed platform provided with a slot, a chute dispom at one side of the slot, a grading scale mounted on the platform and including a pivoted beam, a trackway mounted transversely on the beam at one end oi the latter and movable downwardly with the beam to receive the chute between the rails of the trackway, .said chute acting to direct an article on the trackway toward said slot for passage through the slot, a pocket arranged beneath the platform in operative position to the slot, and a second chute sijzoted between the sides of said slot for guiding article passing through the slot into said O'I'I'O NIEDERER. 

